The laboratories themselves are dangerous places.
“We deal in lethal voltages - hundreds of thousands of volts,” commented Lt.
Col. David R. Guy, deputy to Col. Loren
E. Gaither, Evans Laboratory director. “Emergency power-cut-off switches,
surrounded by big red circles, are located in every high-voltage laboratory.
Because most electronic engineers at one time or other have come in contact
with high voltages, they soon learn to be extremely careful in the laboratories.
We also develop radiological detection devices
for use in case of atomic attack, and that brings in the added hazard of
dealing with dangerous isotopes. One of our nuclear scientists had
a close call one day when he opened a container of isotopes on which the
cap had come loose in shipping. He was immediately exposed to what
could have a been a fatal dose; of we hadn’t rushed him immediately to
the decontamination chamber, he might not be here today.”
Page updated January 1, 2004
page created August 29, 1999
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